'Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan' Original Soundtrack Review

If you follow the "Etrian Odyssey" series at all, you may remember how shocked and excited fans were to discover Yuzo Koshiro had abandoned the series' trademark FM synth sounds for that of a full orchestra. The official game site launched in February of 2012 and featured simple loops of the battle music, which instantly grabbed fans' attention. "Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan" released last year in Japan, and the soundtrack is tricky to get hold of, but fans of the series will not be disappointed.

The first sound that really stands out in "Etrian Odyssey IV" is the prominent use of brass. "Battlefield: Storm" brings to mind the charm and lively sound that we typically associate with JRPGs. On the other hand,"Engraved are the Names that Will Resound Tomorrow" has a more bombastic tone that is punctuated with soothing, floating strings very reminiscent of Joy Hisaishi's work on several Miyazaki films.

The musical variation across the soundtrack is impressive. Take, for instance, "Labyrinth I," which features a fantastic, light piano and wind sound which invokes a sense of adventure. When played next to "Labyrinth II," which features a more melancholy piano and string sound and prominent use of Japanese strings, it showcases Koshiro's versatility in the best way. For extra contrast, "Labyrinth IV" has an electric guitar riff that is quite catchy. Musically, the soundtrack is at its best in the "Area" pieces which are as varied as the "Labyrinth" tracks but by and large feature a more sweeping, aural story. Each piece paints a lovely picture of the world that is surprisingly accessible outside of gameplay.

The battle sequences are the only times when the soundtrack tends to lag. As with many JRPG soundtracks, they tend to lean toward the heavy guitar or loud brass and quickly bleed into one-another. This could be a personal taste thing but in a 30+ track soundtrack, I'm of the mind to combine these tracks into one and highlight more of the more distinctive tracks. Sort of like Jesper Kyd did with last year's "Darksiders II," and the atmospheric compilation piece, "The Corruption." (Which, incidentally, featured a criminally short extract of the amazing Guardian boss battle music, but that is neither here nor there)

As of now, the soundtrack is only available in Japan, via Japanese import sites (CD Japan is the most reliable) and will set you back about $30. Or, better yet, you can pre-order "Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan" and receive both the game music and an artbook on February 26, 2013. (Atlus confirmed that it wil not be available as a stand-alone item in the US)

Fans of the series will want to check this out if for no other reason than to appreciate the change of pace. If you're into the whole Japanese import thing, this is a worthy addition to seek out. If neither of these items apply to you, as enjoyable as the soundtrack is, nothing leaps out as the type of affair that will woo you to either the series or the tumultuous love affair that is Japanese imports.

For completionists, an additional, bonus FM synth soundtrack was confirmed for "Etrian Odyssey IV," simply called "Etrian Odyssey IV (Game) FM Arrange + Drama CD." Unfortunately, while it was originally scheduled to release in October, according to both CD Japan and Play Asia, it appears to be delayed.